Burgundy Discovery wine tours

Two Region Wine Tours

Compare and contrast the wines of Burgundy with other famous French wines as France is home to some of the world’s most famous and interesting wine regions. Travel between regions is generally straightforward by car or train, yet the differences in the wines, landscape, climate and culture is amazing.

To help our guests appreciate Burgundy and other areas we have collaborated with like-minded people who run personal, small group wine tours in the Loire Valley, Rhone Valley, and Savoy regions of France to offer a selection of two region tours

Each of the two region tours combines two days in Burgundy with two days in one of the other regions plus one day travel between.

In Burgundy

Your two-day wine tasting tour combines our one day Premier and one-day Grand Premier tour. Full details of these tours can be found at OUR WINE TOURS Daily tours …….(read more).

Over the two days in Burgundy you will visit six independent, family Domaines and taste red and white, Regional, Village, Premier cru and Grand Cru wine across a range of vintages. We will taste some of Burgundy’s top Appellations as well as some of its hidden secrets. Appellations tasted may include well-known wines such as Chassagne Montrachet, Puligny Montrachet, Meursault, Nuits St Georges, Vosne Romanée, Chambolle Musigny and as well as hidden secrets such as Monthelie, Santenay and the wines of the Hautes-Cotes.

We will also be pleased to recommend some places to stay in and near the wonderful, small medieval town of Beaune where the Burgundy leg of these tours starts and finishes.             

Burgundy and Rhone Valley 

 

This tour combines two-days (Monday and Tuesday) wine tasting in Burgundy , and two-days wine tasting in the Southern Rhone (Thursday and Friday), allowing for one day travel in between.  You will be able to taste, compare and contrast some of the great wines of Burgundy and the Southern Rhone. Guests can begin in Burgundy or the Rhone. Travel between Beaune in Burgundy and the Southern Rhone is very easy. By direct autoroute the journey time is about 4 hours, while fast and frequent TGV trains run between Burgundy and Avignon.

In the Rhone

You will be hosted by Philip and Jude Reddaway and stay three nights in their carefully restored 12c Priory in one of their luxury guest bedrooms. Your two-day wine tasting tour adapts Philip and Jude's "Selected Domaine tour". On your first evening at La Madelene will start with a briefing on the wines of the Rhone valley to get you up to speed with essential information – the Appellation d’Origine Controlée structure, the grape varieties and the wine making traditions of the region. The briefing is followed by a Champagne apero and a four course Provencal dinner accompanied by fine Rhone wines from Philip`s cellar.            

Across the two days of the tour you will visit up to eight wine domaines taking in the Crus and Côtes du Rhone Villages appellations: Chateauneuf du Pape, Gigondas, Vacqueyras, Beaumes de Venise and either Seguret, Cairanne or Rasteau. The domaines are carefully selected to reflect not only the best expressions of the wines of each Cru or Villages level wine, but also to enable you to meet and talk with proprietors who will show you around the vineyards, the winery and talk passionately about their terroir and their wine making philosophy, as you taste.

The tour includes accommodation with breakfast, lunch with wines at two different typical Provencal bistros on both days, two table d’hote evening meals at La Madelene served with Philip’s selection of fine wines, and one evening meal with wine at a favourite local restaurant.

In Burgundy the tour includes (One day Premier Tour and One day Grand Premier Tour)

  • On both days (Monday and Tuesday) pick up and return to your accommodation in or nearby to Beaune.
  • Travel through the vineyards and historic Burgundy villages
  • Guided explanation and information throughout the 2 days in English
  • Visits to 6 selected family domaines within Côte de Beaune, Côte de Nuits and/or Côte Chalonnaise.
  • Tasting of Burgundy’s Regional, top Village and Premier Cru appellation wines and Grand Cru.
  • Personal information pack with maps, wine label details, glossary of  Burgundy wine terms, and information on the growers we will visit during your tour.
  • An excellent 3-course lunch each day, with wine, in local highly regarded restaurants renowned for their typical Burgundy cuisine
  • Opportunity to purchase wine at vineyard prices.

In The Rhone Valley the tour includes

  • 3 nights accommodation at La Madelene, a 12c priory, including breakfast (Wednesday, Thursday, Friday)
  • Champagne reception on first night 
  • 4-course Dinner with fine wines on two nights at La Madelene 
  • Dinner in local restaurant on third night

  • Travel through the vineyards and historic Rhone Valley villages
  • Two days guided wine tasting visiting Crus and Côtes du Rhone Villages appellations from selected family Domaines
  • Bistro lunches on both days 
of winetasting tours
  • Personal information pack with maps, and information on the growers we will visit during your tour
  • Opportunity to purchase wine at vineyard prices. 

This four-day Burgundy and The Rhone Valley tour is 1990 Euro per person

 The price excludes

  • Travel between the two regions
  • Accommodation and evening meals in Burgundy

Burgundy and the Loire Valley 

This tour combines two-days in Burgundy and two-days in the Loire Valley (around Saumur, Anjou, Saumur Champigny, Chinon, Bourgeuil or Savennières ) plus one day travelling between the two areas.

You will be able to taste, compare and contrast some of the great wines of Burgundy and the Loire. Guests can begin either in Burgundy or the Loire. Travel between Beaune in Burgundy and Saumur in the Loire is easy. By road the journey time is about 4 hours while fast and frequent TGV trains link Burgundy and the Loire via Paris. 

In the Loire 

We will meet you from the TGV at Angers Station and drive to La Grande Maison in the heart of the Loire Valley Vineyards near the beautiful riverside town of Saumur. La Grande Maison will be your home for three nights. On arrival at the house we will present you with your itinerary and, with a glass of something chilled in hand, lead you through the appellations and the local wine styles.

On the first evening of the Loire tour you will experience a 4 course Wine Sampling Supper at La Grande Maison - an ideal chance to become familiar with the regions cepages (grape varieties).

Over the next two days you will visit between five and six wineries including family Domaines, Biodynamic & Organic Estates, Cooperatives and of course the famous Saumur Sparkling Wine Houses where you have the opportunity to taste a broad range of wine styles from dry to sweet whites, oaked and un-oaked reds, dry to sweet rose’s, sparkling whites & even a sparkling red.  Lunch is a rustic picnic either in the vineyards or by the banks of the Loire River.

At the end of a busy day touring you will return to La Grande Maison where you can relax with a pot of tea or coffee in the beautiful walled gardens before being driven to a local restaurant for supper.

After a delicious breakfast on your last day you will be returned to Angers for the TGV back to Paris. All you need to do is relax - we take care of the rest.

In Burgundy the tour includes (One day Premier Tour and One day Grand Premier Tour)

  • On both days pick up and return to your accommodation in or nearby to Beaune.
  • Travel through the vineyards and historic Burgundy villages
  • Guided explanation and information throughout the 2 days day in English language. 
  • Visits to 6 selected family Domaines within Côte de Beaune, Côte de Nuits and/or Côte Chalonnaise.
  • Tasting wines of Burgundy’s Regional, top Village and Premier Cru appellation wines and Grand Cru.
  • Personal information pack with maps, wine label details, glossary of  Burgundy wine terms, and information on the growers we will visit during your tour.
  • An excellent 3-course lunch each day, with wine, in local highly regarded restaurants renowned for their typical Burgundy cuisine.
  • Opportunity to purchase wine at vineyard prices. 

In The Loire Valley the tour includes

  • If travelling  by train, pick up from Angers station on arrival , and return on departure.
  • 3 nights Bed and Breakfast accommodation at La Grande Maison
  • Welcome drink on arrival
  • Wine sampling supper on first night at La Grande Maison
  • Travel through the vineyards and historic Loire Valley villages
  • Guided explanation and information throughout the 2 days day in English
  • Visits to 5 to 6 selected family Domaines in Saumur and St Hilaire Florent
  • Picnic lunches in the vineyard or on the banks of the Loire during wine tours
  • Personal information pack with maps, and information on the growers we will visit during your tour
  • Opportunity to purchase wine at vineyard prices. 

This four-day Burgundy and The Loire Valley tour is 1050 Euro per person 

The price excludes

  • Travel between the two regions
  • Accommodation and evening meals in Burgundy
  • Dinner on 2nd night in Loire Valley
  • Single room supplement at La Grande Maison

Burgundy and Savoy - Slopes and Mountains 

This tour offers a wonderful combination of great Burgundy wines and the lesser-known Savoy wines from the foothills of the French Alps. The Savoy part of the tour can be combined with walking in the Alps.

In association with Alpes Flaveurs, Burgundy Discovery present an exceptional wine experience in two very different wine areas in France.

This 5-day tour includes a 2-day wine-tasting tour in Burgundy, 1-day to travel at your leisure between Burgundy and the Savoy and a 2-day wine-tasting tour in the Alps. 

In the Savoy

Bernard Vissoud, owner of Alpes Flaveurs, is a wine-specialist and a mountain- guide who was born in Savoy and takes you on a pleasurable tour of the history, beauty and delights of this region. You will see the sights and meet winegrowers, all in a cheerful, convivial atmosphere. Bernard speaks excellent English and has a Higher Studies diploma in wine growing and Oenology. Benard's enthusiasm and knowledge for this historic and legendary region will rub off on you.

Following your arrival in Savoy either by car or TGV train to Chambéry and pick up and welcome from Bernard Vissoud of Alpes Flaveurs the first day will be spent exploring the vineyards and mountains of the Chartreuse Natural Regional Park and the Epine range.

You will discover the vineyards of Abymes & Apremont, a mythical area at the bottom of the Mount Granier in the Chartreuse Natural Regional Park. After  you will visit the famous little church of Myans, a place of pilgrimage since the Black Virgin‘s miracle in 1248. Your first wine–tasting session of local appellations takes place in the vineyard or in the wine grower’s cellar. Lunch is taken at an Inn with typical, flavoured local dishes. Crossing the mountains of Chartreuse by the impressive Granier pass after lunch you reach the famous vineyard of Jongieux close to the biggest natural lake in France, lac du Bourget. Behind the Epine range the little road winds across some very pretty and typical winegrowers villages before overlooking the lac du Bourget and the famous Haute Combe Abbey. You finish the day wine-tasting with a superb view over the lake.

The second day of winetasting is spent in the vineyards and mountains of the Massif des Bauges Natural Regional Park.

You will be driven to the Chignin vineyards and the famous, rare Bergeron wine for the  first wine tasting session of the day. Lunch will be in a typical little mountain restaurant. You will cross the Massif des Bauges Natural Regional Park via the Frêne pass at 960 m altitude and follow the vineyards to Freterive for the final wine-tasting at Domaine Grisard established over 170 years ago, who produce numerous rare wines for ageing.

In Burgundy the tour includes (One day Premier Tour and One day Grand Premier Tour)

  • On both days pick up and return to your accommodation in or nearby to Beaune.
  • Travel through the vineyards and historic Burgundy villages
  • Guided explanation and information throughout the 2 days day in English language. 
  • Visits to 6 selected family Domaines within Côte de Beaune, Côte de Nuits and/or Côte Chalonnaise.
  • Tasting of between 30-40 of Burgundy’s Regional, top Village and Premier Cru appellation wines and Grand Cru.
  • Personal information pack with maps, wine label details, glossary of  Burgundy wine terms, and information on the growers we will visit during your tour.
  • An excellent 3-course lunch each day, with wine, in local highly regarded restaurants renowned for their typical Burgundy cuisine
  • Opportunity to purchase wine at vineyard prices.

In Savoy the tour includes

  • Pick up and return to Chambery
  • Dinner in local restaurant on third night

  • Travel through the vineyards and Savoie mountains and villages
  • Guided explanation and information throughout the 2 days day in English
  • Two days guided exploration and wine tasting visiting the vineyards of Abymes & Apremont and Massif des Bauges at selected family Domaines
  • Lunches in local inns on both days 
of winetasting tours
  • Personal information pack with maps, and information on the growers we will visit during your tour 

This four-day Burgundy and Savoy is 1050 Euro per person and is for 2-6 people from Mondays through to Fridays subject to availability. The tour can start either in Chambéry or Beaune. 

The price excludes

  • Travel between the two regions
  • Accommodation and evening meals in Burgundy and Savoy